County lines drug dealer from Bolton jailed

A county lines drug dealer from Bolton has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Christopher Cook, of Kylemore Avenue, was spotted by plain clothed officers taking part in a drug deal in Warrington.

The 42-year-old pulled up to an address on Longshaw Street at around 12pm on Monday 19 September 2019 and handed drugs to a known local user.

The two police officers began to follow the vehicle up to Watkin Street and called for a marked car to stop the vehicle.

This led to Cook being detained on St Peters Way and a search was made of him and his car.

It included a crack pipe being recovered from his sock along with £400 in cash and cocaine.

Hidden within the casing of the handbrake were heroin and crack cocaine and a mobile phone.

Cook was then brought into police custody for questioning before being charged.

On Tuesday 15 June a jury found Cook guilty of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin following a two-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court and he was sentenced the following day.

Detective Sergeant Thomas Hall of Warrington Local Policing Unit’s proactive team, said: “Cook was part of an organised crime group called the AJ team based in Manchester.

“They ran a network known as a ‘county line’ and would travel into Warrington to sell drugs to local users.

“By carrying out patrols and acting on information from within the community we were able to identify a known drug user and catch Cook in the act and bring him before the courts.”

DS Hall added: “Drugs have a detrimental impact on vulnerable adults, young children and the wider community.

“We work really hard to identify and pursue individuals who come into Cheshire thinking they can take advantage and profit from illegal drug activity.

“However we can’t do this alone. I would encourage anyone who believes this to be taking part in their area to report it to police either via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”